O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
In this psalm, David says that God is everywhere and He knows everything. It is an amazing psalm that describes God’s power and God’s wisdom. It is encouraging to know that we can never go anywhere where God is not. We can never do anything that God does not see. We are not able to hide from Him or deceive Him. He knows it all and He sees it all. This psalm tells us we are fearfully and wonderfully made. God made each of us individually with a plan and a purpose in mind. It was God who formed each of us. God has made us different than anyone else. Even though we are all different, God knows us each individually. It is a great thought to know that we are special in the eyes of God. He is always watching us, always taking care of us, and always there for us. God created us and He will never leave us. It is awesome to think that this powerful, incredible God allows us to have a personal relationship with Him. Not only does He know us, but He allows us to know Him. He wants us to know Him. He wants us to know what He is like, what He desires for our lives.
In verses 23 and 24, David asks God to search him and try his heart. David knows that God can see into the depths of his heart. God can see everything that is there. He knows it better than David knows it. David desired to live such a life before God where He could ask God to search his heart. He could ask God to test and to try his heart. David could ask God to know his thoughts. How often in our lives do we ask God to search us? Do we live in such a way as to ask God to look into the depths of our heart and see what is in there? God already knows what’s there. He wants us to come to a place where we can ask Him to look in and see for Himself. He wants us to come to the place where we do not try to hide anything from Him. He already knows, He already sees. He will not learn anything new when we ask Him to look. When we can come to a place where we do ask Him to search us, it is the evidence of a life and a heart that wants to live for God. God wants us to be open and honest with Him. There is no point in hiding from Him. As David says in verse 7, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?” God wants His children to be open with Him. To be willing to open our hearts up to Him and ask Him to look in, ask Him to see what’s there, and ask Him to lead us where He would have us go.
- Do you ever think about the fact that God always sees you?
- Do you realize that God made you with a special purpose in mind and He created you to do something that no one else can do?
- Are you able to ask God to search your heart and know your thoughts?
Today, reflect on the fact that God is everywhere you go, that God sees everything, and that God has created you for a reason.
A Pastor's Thoughts 